4/20 Strategy (The Harder Way)

Overview

No, none of that CD+ crap.

Intro

I recently rebought the Five Nights at Freddy’s bundle on Steam. I was so happy to revisit some of my nostalgia. I beat the original game in under two hours, almost easily. If you’ve been playing it for as long as I have, a lot of it is a cakewalk. The only real enemy I had to fear was that power. Once I beat it, I realized I never really attempted 4/20 mode. I mean, I watched other people beat these modes, and I understand their strategies, but I never got around to trying it myself.

So that’s why I started attempting this austere monstrosity of a mode, and after many, many tries, I finally established a possible strategy for the retched night at around my 32nd try. After it, I was consistently nearing 6AM, only barely losing. I finally beat it on my 35th try.

Also, yes, I am aware that this is far from anything new, as many people have had their own strategies of this mode. I was just bored and wanted to write this.

However, I wanted to make a guide covering the hardest way to beat the mode, which is BigBug’s strategy. Some people believe that it’s no longer possible due to the time extending from 8 minutes and 35 seconds to 8 minutes and 55 seconds. Well, I’m here to tell you it is still indeed possible, as I have beat it using his strategy and slightly modifying it.

In fact, I have a log recording my experiences with the mode. You can find it right here:

SKeLeTrust’s Story of 4/20 Mode from fivenightsatfreddys

Now, first things first, let’s discuss the threat of each animatronic, and then summarize the whole strategy for each of them.

Bonnie

Let’s start with the easier ones. Though, I guess that’s not saying much. Regardless, Bonnie’s pretty simple, and in my opinion, the easiest to avoid. Every time you see him via the left door light, close the door. Luckily, he comes and goes very quickly, meaning he never deducts too much power. Very rarely does he ever stay longer than 8-10 seconds, or two rounds of the strategy. (You’ll see what I mean later) After he’s done attacking a singular time, you don’t actually have to check his light for a couple rounds. (Specifically 2-3) I wouldn’t go anywhere past 3. His movement patterns are pretty unpredictable, meaning he can go hours (in-game) without attacking to coming back after even as little as 10 seconds. Anyway, not checking his door light for short increments is actually a pretty good way to save power. I’ve pretty much mastered Bonnie at this point, and he’s only problematic when I get sloppy.

When you’re holding out until the power outage, you don’t need to worry about Bonnie as long as you don’t raise the monitor, since he can only enter when you put it up. Bonnie is no longer a threat once the power goes out.

While Bonnie is among the easiest, you still need to be very swift to avoid him, because if you’re too slow, he can disable your buttons in a finger snap.

Chica

Pretty much everything that I said for Bonnie applies to Chica, except the right door. Like Bonnie, Chica can’t do anything once the power runs out.

One minor note though: Chica’s on the same side as Freddy’s, which means his strategy might slip you up with Chica if you let your guard down. (You accidentally open the right door when Chica’s still standing outside) You are given a little leeway to fix your mistake, but usually it needs to be a quick fix. Otherwise, she has the ability to screw you over instantly. Admittedly, I’ve fallen victim to this a few times.

Foxy

Now, the irritating ones. While, I don’t think he’s the most annoying like lots of other people claim, I can definitely agree that this fox can be a bastard. Now, granted, Pirate’s Cove is the only CAM you need to check, so you’d imagine always being able to keep Foxy in place, right?

Wrong. You can toss that whole “watching Foxy keeps him immobile” gimmick out the window. There are times where he hardly comes out at all, and others where he attacks three times in a row, no matter how much you check on him. That wouldn’t be so bad, if he didn’t melt away so much power with every attack he delivers. Foxy is entirely unpredictable during this challenge. However, watching him as much as you can is still your best option.

Now, how many attacks would I say would be still fair game for you to win? The first time is okay, because he only takes 1%. However, with every attack, the amount of power taken away increases. (Second time, -6%, Third time, -11%) So, I’d say one time is the limit. If he gets you more than that, I’d say GG. Whenever you get the chance, pick up that monitor, even if it’s only for a split second.

As for the part where you hold out until the power gives up on itself is also up to Foxy and what phase he was at before you started. If he was one phase away from running towards your office, you’re likely screwed unless he’s very nice. If he’s only peeking out of the curtain or completely hidden, you should be okay. As soon as the power goes out, you no longer need to worry about Foxy. Also, if it’s 0%, and you think Foxy’s about to run in, don’t lose hope! There have actually been instances where jumpscares get cut off by the power! So, there’s a very small chance that the power outage might save you!

Freddy

Oh yeah, Him. Don’t get me wrong, I love Freddy as a character, but during this challenge, I just want to break through my computer screen and give this distinguished mole a taste of his own medicine. I’ve kept my cool throughout the entirety of this guide, but…I think I’m gonna have to drop some bombs on the man himself.

Yeah, Freddy’s also pretty simple. Hell, every animatronic in this game is. But literally one hiccup with him can send you right back to square one. Well, here’s how you avoid him. Once you hear his fifth laugh, (or when you can hear he’s getting close) start closing the right door every time you lift up the monitor. I’m putting full emphasis on every time. Even if you mess up once, Freddy can just run in and shout in your face before you can act on anything to stop him.

Slipping up is way easier than you think. Simply seeing Foxy gone or closing the door for Bonnie or Chica can distract you enough to let the rat in. If you’ve attempted 4/20, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. At least with Bonnie and Chica, you’re given just enough time to correct your mistake before it’s too late. Freddy though? Hell no! You either get it right or you’re ♥♥♥♥♥♥. I will say as a side note though: Sometimes Freddy’s not at the East Hall Corner yet when I make a mistake. That’s lucky, because almost every other time, he’s just chilling there waiting to give people yet another bite to talk about.

Like some of the other animatronics, you don’t need to worry about him when holding out for power.
However, his behavior after the power outage is arguably even worse. As you may know, Freddy walks all the way towards the left door and plays his jingle. When he stops, the lights go completely out, which follows by his jumpscare, ending your run.

Well, sorry to say, but there’s nothing you can do to help yourself last longer. It’s up to the game’s completely randomized chances of success. The part that really pisses me off is that you can be flawless the entire night, have great usage of power, and completely avoiding any sign of Foxy, and yet, Freddy has the full authority to do his quick song and end your game immediately, giving you no time to hold out until 6AM. In fact, what’s somehow even ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ more abysmal is that Freddy’s done his quick kills more than his slow ones! So it’s almost like the game doesn’t want you to win.

Also, I think the whole “do nothing and he takes longer” theory is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Regardless of what I did, he still did the quick kills more often than not.

I’d easily say that most of my deaths have been from Freddy during this mission by far. Seriously, this ♥♥♥♥♥♥ wants you dead.

Sorry for losing my cool there. I just seriously can’t stand Freddy during 4/20 mode. (Don’t worry, I won’t cuss again)

Misc.

Let me quickly cover some minor potential menances before covering the whole strategy.

Yeah, the infamous IT’S ME hallucinations happen randomly throughout the game, and unfortunately there is no way to prevent them. Just don’t let them distract you! Luckily they never distracted me too much.

Actually, you have no reason to worry about him. He’s not only an extremely rare easter egg, and effortlessly easy to avoid, but since he can only be activated by checking on West Hall Corner, (If he activates at all) he should be absolutely zero issue. The only two CAMs you should be checking at all are Pirate’s Cove and occasionally West Hall to get Foxy’s attacks over with.

Strategy

With all this being said, here’s the strategy I use. (Also, no this isn’t entirely original. Lots of credit goes to BigBug)

1. Immediately flip up the monitor and switch the CAM to Pirate’s Cove
2. Repeatedly flip the monitor up and down until you hear Freddy’s closer laughs or the ambience of Bonnie or Chica getting closer (The power shouldn’t be any shorter than 95% at this point)

1. Close the right door
2. Flip up the monitor for a split second
3. Open the right door
4. Check the right light (If Chica’s present, re-close the door. If you want, after the first round, flicker her lights until she isn’t there)
5. Check the left light (If Bonnie’s present, close the door. Like Chica, you can also flicker the lights until he leaves)
Afterwards, just rinse and repeat. This is what I refer to as a singular round.

1. Flip down the monitor
2. Immediately close both doors
3. Flip up the monitor
4. Quickly switch to the West Hall and back to Pirate’s Cove
5. Wait until you hear the knocking, then you’re free to open the left door. (You can open it during the knocking, just be sure to wait 1/3 of a second before doing so)
Remember, if he attacks more than once, I suggest restarting, as too much power will have been taken away.

1AM = Low 80%
2AM = Mid 60%
3AM = Mid-High 40%
4AM = Low-Mid 20%
5AM = At least 7% (I’d say anywhere below this would be a GG)
Foxy’s first attack won’t affect your power that much. Just make sure he doesn’t attack again.

At about 4% (or slightly lower if you want, but I’d say 4% is the max. Also, yes, I am aware that BigBug started this at 6%. I’d say he was incredibly lucky Foxy even let him alone for that long) keep the monitor down, open both doors, and don’t use any lights. (In other words, do absolutely nothing)

What about Foxy? Well, just hope he doesn’t come down too soon. Like I already said, if Foxy was only peeking out of his curtain or entirely inside it, you should be fine. However, if he was visibly out of his curtain, then this might come with lots of risk and stress. Even at this rate though, people have barely avoided him, such as Markiplier. Remember, Foxy’s jumpscare can be cut off.

By the way, you need to be at 5AM at this point. If not, you’re pretty much screwed.

When the power goes out, start hoping to god that Freddy’s arrival, song, and jumpscare is delayed just enough so you can win. BigBug states that his maximum windup is 50 seconds. Once again, there’s nothing you can do to make him last longer. So if he does it quickly, try not to rage (Though for me I found that quite difficult) and start over.

Every hour after 12 lasts 89 seconds. 12AM lasts 90 seconds for some odd reason.
Which means that a singular night in this game lasts 8 minutes and 55 seconds.

This means that the power outage needs to happen sometime after 8 minutes and 5 seconds, which would allow you to barely get past Freddy’s maximum windup of 50 seconds.

If all of this is successful, congratulations! You have beaten 4/20 mode the harder way!

Reward

It’s nothing special really. You just receive a third star on the title screen.

Don’t blame Scott, because he didn’t even know 4/20 mode was possible until BigBug beat it.

But hey, if you’re still angry, think of it this way:
The real reward is knowing that you beat it.
Trust me, it feels amazing and incredibly satisfying just thinking about it. 🙂

Thanks for tuning in everybody! Hope this guide was helpful to you!

Good luck on your journey to beat 4/20 mode!